Dogs cannot be brought into or transit through Hong Kong unless a Special Permit to do so is obtained in advance from AFCD. Additional prior approval from AFCD is also required for in-cabin transport of a Disability Assistance Dog.

Definition of Disability Assistance Dog (DAD)
A "Disability Assistance Dog" is a dog that has been trained to help people with physical disabilities to gain more personal independence. DADs are non-aggressive, highly obedient and hard-working. Their health conditions are regularly and closely monitored by veterinary surgeons and they would have a good history of vaccination against the major infectious diseases.

In light of these regulations, we currently only accept service animals for travel in our aircraft cabins if:

they meet the AFCD definition of Disability Assistance Dog (DAD);

thepassenger has obtained a Special Permit from AFCD for the Importation/ Transit/ Transhipment of the dog;

the passenger has obtained prior written approval from AFCD for in-cabin transportation of the Disability Assistance Dog; and

original copies of all documentation required by AFCD are presented at check-in and on arrival into Hong Kong (we also encourage passengers to provide advance copies of this documentation to our reservations department as far in advance as possible).

All other animals are treated as pets and therefore other arrangements must be made for their carriage. Depending on each passenger’s situation, there may be quarantine regulations imposed.

Application Procedure
To apply for the Special Permit, the passenger should submit the permit fee as well as the following documents to AFCD:

DAD Certification - Certification that confirms that the dog has been trained and that the training is accredited by Assistance Dogs International (or equivalent). It must include the content of the training course and the level/qualification attained. The certificate may include the following contents:

What sort of training has been given to the dog e.g. training in a high standard of appropriate behaviour, training in real life situations travelling and functioning on public transport, training to behave under the instructions from the owner, training not to react to noises, crowds or stressful environments.

How much training the dog has received in each of the above training elements.

Confirmation that the dog is competent in all of the above training elements.

Rabies Antibody Test Certificate – certifying that the dog has been tested for rabies neutralisation antibody titre (RNATT) at least 180 days prior to entry to Hong Kong.

The certificates must be signed and stamped by EITHER a full time salaried government veterinary officer OR a registered veterinary surgeon and endorsed by a full time salaried government veterinary officer.

The in-cabin transportation of a service dog is considered separately from the issue of the Special Permit. Passengers wishing to apply for their dogs to travel in the aircraft cabin should submit an additional request to AFCD for approval and provide the following additional information:

A recent letter written from their medical doctor illustrating why he/she is required to travel with an assistance dog (or equivalent).

Applications can be submitted in person or by post and generally take 5 working days from the date of receipt of the application form and permit fee to the date of issue, subject to the provision of all required information. Please apply well in advance and make allowances for mailing time.

For more details, please refer to the AFCD website. In light of the AFCD’s stringent requirements, we ask that you contact our local Global contact centres and/or AFCD as far in advance as possible so that we can assist you with the permitting process and make necessary arrangements for the transport of your animal.

Please note that there may also be additional requirements for entry at your end destination if you are only transiting through Hong Kong. In order to facilitate transit through Hong Kong, the dog should also have been granted certification by the relevant end destination country's Health Department to accompany its owner or partner at all times and in all places due to the dog’s high standard of training, behaviour, health and welfare.

B) Importation/ Transit/Transhipment of dogs to other countries than Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (HK CAD) only permit dogs complying with the definition of Guide Dog or Assistance Dog to be carried in an aircraft passenger compartment.

Definitions according to HK CAD:

Guide dog: is one that is trained to provide mobility assistance to a blind or partially sighted person. A guide dog is one that is trained by an individual or organization that is accepted by and affiliated to the International Guide Dog Federation.

Assistance dog: is one that has been specifically trained to assist a disabled person and that has been qualified by an organization registered as a member of the Assistance Dog International and Assistance Dogs Europe. The dog will have been granted certification by the relevant country’s Health Department on the basis that the dog’s high standard of training, behaviour, health and welfare are such that it should be permitted to accompany its client, owner or partner at all times and in all places.

Guide and assistance dogs being imported or travelling in transit or transhipment to countries other than Hong Kong should comply with the regulations of their final or transit destination, as well as the following HK CAD guidelines, to ensure flight safety:

Only dogs complying with the definition of guide dog or assistance dog are permitted to be carried in an aircraft passenger compartment;

Dogs not meeting the HK CAD definition of guide dog or assistance dog, or any other animal, must be treated as a pet and other arrangements must be made for its carriage.

In light of the HK CAD’s stringent requirements, we ask that you contact our Global contact centres as far in advance as possible so that we can assist you with the necessary arrangements for the transport of your dog.

Inflight

Larger dogs shall be accommodated on the cabin floor at the owner’s feet.

Smaller, lighter dogs may be carried on the owner’s lap.

Your service dog needs to be properly harnessed and the leash of the dog must be secured to the owner’s seatbelt at all times during flight.

Care and supervision of the dog is the sole responsibility of its owner and we require that the animal relieve itself in a way that does not create a health or sanitation issue inflight.

We allow one service dog per passenger, but in the event that a passenger wish to travel with two service animals we would make every reasonable effort to accommodate the passenger in accordance with USDOT part 382 and our company seating policy. An extra seat could be purchased to accommodate the animals in accordance to safety regulations by HKCAD and other local authorities.